adventures in climbing

Just over a year ago, I fell hard. I fell hard in love. With rock climbing.

As the years press on, I have made choices more and more based on doing
something because it makes me happy. I say I had my quarter-life crisis
when I moved back to Maine from Long Beach, California after working in
the marketing and PR world for a number of years and decided to change
careers to become a photographer. Despite the obvious lifestyle and
financial change that come with that artistic territory, that choice has
made me very happy.

I used to work in Production at the photo agency Aurora Photos. It was started by some National Geographic
photographers and focuses on outdoor adventure photography. This is
where my curiosity peaked about sports like climbing, skiing, and
surfing. I worked with the images that renowned photographers -- like Jose Azel, Corey Rich, Ben Moon, and Jimmy Chin,
just to name a few -- submitted to the agency and was in awe of the
extreme sports being captured. I knew what ropes climbing looked like
and often thought those folks were crazy, but I was in awe of
bouldering. The more images I saw of the sport, the more I wanted to do
it.

A few years passed without me acting upon my curiosity, but for some
reason that urge resurfaced a year ago. I was bored at my regular gym
and walked into my local Maine Rock Gym
and said, "Hi, I'd like to do that," pointing to the bouldering area. I
had followed through on my word, making the choice to do something I
said I would, and ultimately found happiness in the sport of
bouldering. I had dug out some old climbing shoes that a friend had
passed along to me and off I went. It wasn't pretty, folks. Still
isn't to this day at times. But after one session, despite my flailing
and fears, I was hooked. I eventually added ropes climbing to the mix,
and finally got outside to do both bouldering and lead climbing. Recent
acquisitions are a cushy new crash pad for bouldering (they sure do
look smaller as you get higher) and a shiny set of C4 cams for
mixed/trad climbing. Maybe a little cart before the horse there, but
I've got to start somewhere.

This last year has been pretty freakin' cool. The Maine Rock Gym
community is great. I've been lucky enough to meet some amazing
climbers that are sure to be lifelong friends. I competed in three of
the Dark Horse bouldering competitions and actually made the podium. I
took some falls lead climbing and still have the bruises. I realized I
don't really like heights (well, I think I learned that on the Knife
Edge at Mt. Katahdin last year), but I reaffirmed it this year. My
solution is to suck it up and keep climbing with the least amount of
whining. I have experienced mental blocks and plateaus in my
bouldering. I have learned to overcome some of them. My brother says I
now have "man hands" and for me not to touch him with them. I climb to
clear my mind and balance my soul. Like surfing, it is one of the few
sports where you can actually be in the moment, which is an amazing
feeling (I learned to surf this year, too, but it took a backseat with
my addiction to climbing). I'm a bit of a late bloomer, having never
climbed until now at the age of 32, but I love that I have plenty of
years ahead of me to keep learning about this sport, about this
obsession. I now have a new subject to document with photography.
Again, I have a long way to go, but I'll get there and have fun doing
it. I am happy.

Hi Tina, yes, Em told me about you! A woman after my own heart, living and shooting down there :) The RRG is totally on my list, hoping for a road trip this fall down there. Some of my fellow climber friends just went there this spring and I told them about the Rockhouse, so hopefully they stopped in. Congrats on opening that and your wedding (saw Tyler's post - love him!).